EU: Lima conference crucial stepping stone to Paris

The European Union expects the UN climate change conference on 1-12 December in Lima, Peru, to pave the way for the adoption of a new, legally binding, global climate agreement in Paris next year. The EU is confident that the new agreement will significantly strengthen and broaden collective international efforts to tackle climate change. The 40% greenhouse gas reduction target agreed by EU leaders in October, together with the announcement by the US and China on their future targets that followed, are clear evidence of global resolve.

The EU will be represented in Lima by Gian Luca Galletti, Minister of Environment for Italy, which currently holds the presidency of the Council of the EU, and Miguel Arias Cañete, EU Commissioner for Climate Action and Energy.

Minister Galletti said: “We must build on the growing momentum for a global climate agreement. All countries must come forward as early as possible in 2015, to enable a transparent assessment process. We must ensure that the contributions match up against the science and that we remain on track to keep global warming below 2 degrees Celsius.”

The President of the European Commission Jean-Claude Juncker has identified building ‘a resilient Energy Union with a forward-looking climate change policy’ as one of his ten priorities for this Commission. Vice-President for the Energy Union, Maroš Šefčovič, said: “Lima gives us a message of hope. It shows that it’s not too late to secure our chances to meet the internationally agreed 2 degrees limit. With our new 2030 climate and energy package we have reconfirmed our confidence in a more energy-efficient, low-carbon economy, which is a cornerstone of the energy union. If we scale-up domestic policies and international cooperation, we can achieve it: it is a matter of political will”.

Miguel Arias Cañete, EU Commissioner for Climate Action and Energy, added: “Lima is a crucial stepping stone to Paris, where we have an historic opportunity to tackle the greatest challenge facing our planet today. The final deal in Paris must mirror today’s economic realities. That means we need every major economy to play its part. Europe was the first to act by announcing our own target. China and the US were quick to respond. Now we are looking to the other big emitters to join us. The clock is ticking; it’s time for action.”